Murfreesboro Post
MURFREESBORO WEATHER

Football workouts should begin in July




Hale 

Hale 

Too much, too soon?

Be careful for what you wish for because you just might get it?

Just throwing a couple of adages out there to ponder. 

I know we’re in phases of reopening businesses across the state as we need to trigger the economy back toward normalcy.

Let’s get something straight: Things aren’t going to be “normal” for a long, long time, if ever. 

Sure, people are getting back to work unless they’re choosing to take the $875 unemployment a week through July that is more than what they typically make a week.

Restaurants and bars are phasing their way toward normalcy, but in reality, many have pushed the envelope and have broken all the rules.

Just as we ignored the warning signs of the COVID-19 virus before the shutdown — and I’m as guilty as any — we’re dismissing what is still happening. 

Positive cases are still rising and I realize more people are getting tested. Granted, only about .2 percent of people who have contracted the virus have died, and most scoff at that because more people die of the regular flu. However, what if it’s a person you love — a spouse, a grandparent, a friend, a child? Gets a little deeper then, doesn’t it?

I’m not saying I disagree with trying to return to normalcy, but it just seems we’re going all-out instead of being somewhat sensible.

High school football players in Rutherford County returned to the field on Monday with major restrictions. Coaches want to coach and players want to play, which is understandable as this quarantine stuff has been a major pain. Additionally, the coaches are going to take any, and all, precautions possible. 

Obviously, my thinking is a little different in that I think maybe we’re getting back to things a little too soon.

Rutherford County was called a hot spot to watch last week as it had moved to fourth overall in COVID-19 positive cases in the state behind Davidson County, Shelby County and Trousdale County, which was just above our county because most occurred in a prison. 

I don’t think we should be petrified of the virus, but we must respect it.

What would it hurt to see what happens in the month of June?

The University of Oklahoma football program isn’t bringing back its players until July 1 as head coach Lincoln Riley said it’s too dangerous to bring players in so soon. 

That seems like a better game plan than June 1. We could evaluate the numbers and data for a good month after the reopening, and it would still give Tennessee high school football teams about six weeks to prepare for the season.

Plus, if you’re not good enough to compete in six weeks, you’re not going to be good anyway.

And as for normalcy? The teams that have been the top contenders year in and year out aren’t going to change. 

Monte Hale Jr. is sports editor of The Murfreesboro Post. Email him at mhale@mainstreetmediatn.com

 

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